33784: Standing at the Black Stone and blocking tawaaf

Some pilgrims, when they reach the line that marks the place for starting tawaaf, stand there for a long time, blocking the way for other pilgrims and causing annoyance to them. What is the ruling on standing at this line and making lengthy du’aa’s?.

Praise be to Allaah.

This question was put to Shaykh Muhammad ibn
‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) who said:

(The pilgrim) cannot afford to stand there
for long, rather he should face the Black Stone, point to it, say Takbeer and start walking. This is not a place where one should stand for any
length of time, but I see some people standing there and saying, “I intend to perform tawaaf for the sake of Allaah, seven circuits, tawaaf of
‘Umrah, or a voluntary tawaaf,” and so on. This is based on a mistaken notion about the niyyah (intention). Speaking the intention of doing acts
of worship out loud is an innovation. It was not narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from any of his
companions. You are performing an act of worship for the sake of Allaah, Who knows your intention, so there is no need to speak it out loud.